Royal Family Cremation Ceremony

People lives in Ubud and visitors were recently witnessed the royal cremation ceremony took place on July 15, 2008 for Members for Ubud Royal Family.

The cremation was held for the bodies of two prominent of elders of the Ubud Royal Family, Tjokorda Gde Agung Suyasa and Tjokorda Gede Raka. The effigy of Desak Raka whose body was cremated in a similar ceremony in December 2007 soon after she passed away, will also give a full cremation ceremony. On the same day, 68 other people from villages in Ubud also received full cremation ceremonies.

I was very lucky to be able to witness this spectacular moment which rarely held in Bali, the previous one was in 1979. Here are few pictures I took during the cremation day. There were two big bulls statue and two cremation towers or Bade, one of the tower has 28 meters height.

People in Ubud lives with unique culture and traditions blend in harmony with Hindu religion.

Tree Planting

Collaborate with FNPF (Friends of National Parks Foundation – non profit organization working to preserve Indonesia’s wildlife and its habitat for her people and for the world), Maya Ubud Resort & Spa initiates a program to support the environment’s preservation and protection.

This program welcomes all Maya Ubud guests to take part by planting tree(s) along the resort’s riverside nature walk. Variety of threes are available from the resort’s nursery such as mango, coconut, clove, guava, jackfruit, breadfruit, mangos teen, water apple, coffee, etc. After pick the tree(s)’ preference, guests may also choose the spot of tree(s) will be planted. Moreover, this tree(s) will be tagged with the name, date of planting, and other chosen words guest may consider.

Mr & Mrs. Wolfgang Baermann from Germany have participated in this program. They have tried to grow tropical tress they had from Bali back in their country but had no success. Then they decided to have their own mango tree in Maya Ubud, and will look forward to seeing how it will develop on future visits.

A little fee is charged with the proceeds being donated to FNPF. Guests’ donation will help them to pursue the reforestation of the islands in Indonesia. They will plant about 3 seedlings for each of the contribution.

In my personal observation, being concern of global warming, this program becomes one of my favorites in Maya Ubud. I hope this tree planting may help offsetting the carbon emissions and keenly contribute a temperature decrease. Overall, I think it’s quite a nice feeling just to think becoming part in fighting global warming.

Canang Sari Balinese Offering

One of Maya Ubud Resort & Spa leisure programs is Balinese Offering Creation Lesson. The Resort’s Florist share their experience on how Balinese make their daily offering to present to the temple. The class that is set in informal Balinese style way.

They gathered on traditional carpet called “tikar” made from dried plaited pandan leaf. Some fresh materials are needed on offering making such as young coconut leaves, variety of different colourful flowers including frangipani, cempaka, sandat, mitir, pacah and chopped scented pandan leaf.

The first lesson is making the structure of the base that is made from the banana leaf. The leaves cut in particular shape, chain one piece to another with semat ( bamboo tiny stick functioned as a staple) to make it perfect round form.

The next step is arranging the flowers, this step is much more easier than the banana structure, all you need is to place the flowers on top of the banana leaf base. The flowers will need to arrange so that it look colourful side by side. The chopped pandan leaf will be placed on top of the flowers.

The beautiful offering is now ready to present.



Seen on pictures are step by step and Dr Phillipa Leonard and Ms Deborah Cooke who were participating the offering making very recently with resort florist Kadek Agustini. They will bring the offering to the East Coast Tour the next day as one of the itineraries is visiting temple where the offering will be presented.

Kadek Agustini, Florist